The House of the Wolfings · Chapter
IV: The House Fareth to the War explained
The Wolfing House prepares for war.
What happens
The Wolfing House prepares for war. Thiodolf returns to find the entire household astir, with thralls and women readying war-gear. The warriors gather at the Hill of Speech, where the Hall-Sun lights a torch from the Hall-Sun flame and delivers a farewell speech, quenching the candle as a symbol of departure. The banner-wain, drawn by ten black bulls, leads the procession as the House departs for the hosting, leaving the stay-at-home folk with foreboding.
Themes in this chapter
Ritual and Custom
The Hall-Sun's lighting and quenching of the torch, the blowing of the War-horn, and the formal departure of the warriors illustrate the deep ritual traditions of the Wolfings.
Sacrifice and Loss
The foreboding among the stay-at-home folk and the Hall-Sun's ambiguous prophecy hint at the potential losses of war, emphasizing the theme of sacrifice.
The Cycle of War and Return
The chapter focuses on the departure for war, with the Hall-Sun's words promising a return, yet the quenching of the torch symbolizes the uncertainty of that cycle.
Characters to notice
- Thiodolf
Returns to the habitations, takes up his shield and spear, blows the War-horn from the Hill of Speech, and leads the departure.
- Hall-Sun
Sits on the dais in an ancient garment, gives Thiodolf the War-horn, then lights a torch from the Hall-Sun flame and delivers a farewell prophecy before quenching it.
- Wolfkettle
Mentioned among the warriors; present in the throng gathered at the Hill of Speech.
- Heriulf
Mentioned among the warriors; present in the throng gathered at the Hill of Speech.
- Asmund the Old
Mentioned among the warriors; present in the throng gathered at the Hill of Speech.
Key passages
“Now when Thiodolf came back to the habitations of the kindred the whole House was astir, both thrall-men and women, and free women hurrying from cot to stithy, and from stithy to hall bearing the last of the war-gear or raiment for the fighting-men.”
Upon Thiodolf's return, the entire household was bustling with activity as thralls and free women rushed to prepare the final pieces of war equipment and clothing for the warriors.
Describes the immediate aftermath of Thiodolf's return and the frantic preparations for war.
“So she began in a sweet voice yet clear and far-reaching: 'O Warriors of the Wolfings by the token of the flame That here in my right hand flickers, come aback to the House of the Name! For there yet burneth the Hall-Sun beneath the Wolfing roof...'”
The Hall-Sun spoke in a sweet but carrying voice, calling the warriors to return by the flame she held, reminding them that the Hall-Sun still burned at home.
The Hall-Sun's farewell speech, invoking the flame as a symbol of the House's enduring presence.
“As she spake the word she turned the candle downward, and thrust it against the grass and quenched it indeed; but the whole throng of warriors turned about, for the bulls of the banner-wain lowered their heads in the yokes and began to draw, lowing mightily; and the wain creaked and moved on, and all the men-at-arms followed after...”
She extinguished the candle by pressing it into the grass, and at that moment the banner-wain's bulls began to pull, setting the entire war-band in motion.
The ritual quenching of the torch signals the departure, and the warriors follow the banner-wain as it moves.